An Article in KALAIMAGAL (1935) by Sri U.Ve.Swaminatha Iyer

[venkatakailasam]

Kind courtesy...Shri Ramaswamy Narayanan...
Shankarabharanam Narasaiyer’ was a contemporary of Raja Sarfoji, a Mahratta ruler. The Mahratta rulers of Thanjavur in the late 18th century and the first half of the 19th century were all great lovers and patrons of Carnatic Music. Thanks to their patronage,Thanjavur was the heart of Carnatic Music.Great musicians from different, parts of Madras Presidency, made a beeline for Thanjavur seeking the recognition, approval and patronage of the Maharatta Rulers. Several legendary figures and luminaries in the world of Carnatic music like ‘Veena’ Perumal lyer, ‘Pallavi’ Gopala lyer, ‘Irattai Pallavi’ Shivaretna lyer; ‘Ganam’ Krishna lyer, ‘Chowklam’ Srinivasa lyengar, ‘Thodi’ Seetharama Iyer’ and others all basked in the sunshine of support and sustenance provided by the Mahratta rulers of Thanjavur during this period.


RAJA SARFOJI
(1777-1832) HE WAS RULER OF THANJAVUR FROM 1798 TO 1832

The great Acharya and Guru for most of these musicians was Pachaimyrian Adiappa lyer. One of his most distinguished students was ‘Shankarabharanam’ Narasaiyer whose name and fame became legendary during the days of Raja Sarfoji of Thanjavur, On one occasion in the Royal presence of Raja Sarfoji of Thanjavur, he delineated the Shankarabharanam Raga and his mellifluous raga alapana, followed by pallavi and kalpana swara, took the Royal audience to unprecedented heights of ecstasy and joy. Raja Sarfoji, himself a great connoisseur of Carnatic music exclaimed: ‘I have not heard such an exquisite rendering of Shankarabharaman in my entire life’.

Raja Sarfoji spontaneously conferred upon Narasaiyar the Royal title of ‘SHANKARABHARANAM’ NARASAIYER. This happened in the twenties of the 19th century. From that day onwards, the rendering of Shankarabharanam Raga by Narasaiyar became famous and well-known throughout Madras Presidency.

Once ‘Sharlkarabharanam’ Narasaiyar found himself in a state of personal financial crisis and sought the help of a landlord called Ramabhadra Moopanar of Kapisthalam who was also a distinguished patron of Carnatic Music. The following conversation is reported to have ensued between ‘Shartkarabharanam’ Narasaiyar and Kapisthalam Ramabhadra Moopanar:

Narasaiyar: ‘I am in a state of an unforeseen financial crisis. l feel delicate to seek your help to bail me out of this crisis. May I request you to give me a shortterm loan to enable me to get out of this crisis?’

Ramabhadra Moopanar: ‘Oh! You want a loan! How much do you require?’
Narasaiyer: ’80 soverigns of gold’
Ramabhadra Moopanar. ‘You want a loan. Can you offer any security for hypothecation?’
Narasaiyar: “Oh yes’’
Ramabhadra Moopanar: What can you offer for hypothecation?’,
Narasaiyar: ‘I can offer an invaluable ‘Abharanam’ as security for the loan’.
Ramabhadra Moopanar: ‘Let me see it’.
Narasaiyar: I am afraid you cannot see that ‘Abharanam’.

That ‘Abharanam’ is my own. You and others can of course hear it. That‘Abharanam’ is my own. It is the ‘Shakarabharanam’ Raga which has been patented to me in perpetuity by our great ‘Raja Sarfoji’ of Thanjavur. I am ready to offer this ‘Sharakarabharanam as security for your loan and till I return it I swear an oath that I will not sing this raga in any of my public performances.

Ramabhadra Moopanar: ‘If that be so you can take the loan after giving me a promissory note to that effect’.

And so the story goes that Narasaiyar took the loan of 80 sovereigns from Kapisthalam Ramambhadra Moopanar: True to his pledged word, he, stopped rendering Sankarabharanam raga in all his public performances thereafter: The large crowds which used to throng his Kutcheries started missing his Shankarabharana Raga with nostalgia and regret.

During this time there lived in Kumbakonam a distinguished and wealthy servant of the English East India Company called Appuraya. As he was very close to a powerful English functionary called Wallis of the English East India Company he came to be known as ‘Wallis’ Appuraya. Once there was a wedding in the house of ‘Wallis Appuraya.

‘’Wallis’ Appuraya had invited all the great Carnatic musicians of the day to give music performances at this wedding. Shankarabharanam Narasaiyar was one of the most distinguished invitees.

When Shankarabharanam Narasaiyar came to the dais to sing, ‘Wallis’ Appuraya requested him to start his performance with a Varnam in Shankarabharanam. The following conversation took place between them on this occasion.

‘Shankarabharanam’’ Narasaiyar: ‘I beg your pardon. I cannot accommodate your request to sing Shankarabharanam Varnam. I am not in a position to do so’.

‘’Wallis’ Appuraya: ‘Why not?’ (a little upset) ‘

‘Shankarabharanam` Narasaiyar: ‘I am sorry to tell you that I have already offered my royally patented Shankarabharanam Raga as security to a person who has grated me a loan. I have also given him a ‘promissory’ note giving an assurance to the effect that l will not sing Shankarabharanam Raga till I return the loan’.

‘Wallis’ Appuraya: ‘ What an amazing thing? I have never heard of an aesthetic and spiritual thing like a raga being hypothecated for a loan. Anyway let that be. Can you kindly tell me how much loan you have taken? I am very keen and anxious to settle your loan immediately in order to set you free to sing Shankarabharanam Raga today at my family wedding. Nothing can give me greater joy and peace than your singing the Shankarabharanam Raga’.

Thereafter ‘WaIlis’ Appuraya immediately sent the loan amount of 80 gold sovereigns due, together with interest to Kapisthalam Ramabhadra Moopanarand requested him to return the promissory note duly discharged to‘Shankarabharanam’ Narasaiyar: On receipt of the loan amount from ‘Wallis’ Appuraya, Kapisthalam Ramabhadra Moapanar rushed to Kumbakonam.

A memorable meeting took place between ‘’Wallis’ Appuraya,‘Shankarabharanam’ Narasaiyar and Kapisthalam Ramabhadra Moopanar. Moopanar said with great feel-ing and emotion. ‘If only ‘Shankarabharanam’ Naraisaiyar had sought my financial assistance as of right without asking for a loan I would have helped him immediately, I was greatly hurt by his request for the grant of a loan. Since he was formal and officious in his approach towards me despite my being his fan and patron, I too became formal in my response insisting upon the procedure of hypothecation and a promissory note’.

Instantaneously Kapisthalam Ramabhadra Moopanar handed over the 80 sovereigns together with interest to ‘Shankarabharanam’ Narasaiyar with the following observation with warmth and affection: ‘l have no right to put a great Raga like Shankarabharanam in a man-made financial bondage. I voluntarily submit myself to the punishment of forfeiture of the loan amount of 80 sovereigns of gold together with interest to ‘Shankarabharanam’ Narasaiyar’. It was indeed a warm and noble gesture.

[Pratyaksham Bala]

For the images of Dr. U.V. Swaminatha Iyer and Raja Sarfoji, please check:
http://newstodaynet.com/printer.php?id=18399

[Pratyaksham Bala]

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"V. Sundaram, IAS, (the author of the article given in Post #1) is a lover and keen student of Carnatic Music. He is a trained Mridangam Player ... ..."

A brief write-up on him is available at http://ennapadampanchajanya.blogspot.in ... daram.html
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